2012 Minnesota Legislature Retirement List

Here are list of Legislators who have announced retirements or running for other offices:


Running for Congress or US Senate:


Rep. Kurt Bills


Want to switch from House to Senate:


Torrey Westorm
Bobby Joe Champion
Bev Scalze 
Mary Kiffmeyer
Kent Eken
Branden Petersen
Connie Doepke 
Maria Ruud
Lyle Koenen (filed to run for Kubly's vacant seat)
Bruce Anderson
Carrie Ruud


Want to run for other office: 
Senator Linda Higgins- running for Hennepin County Board


Legislators who want to retire for good or maybe run again in future:


Rep. Larry Hosch
Rep. Kate Knuth
Rep. Mark Murdock
Rep. Pat Mazrol
Rep. Mindy Greiling 
Sen Keith Langseth
Sen. Amy Koch
Sen. Al DeKruif 
Sen. Chris Gerlach
Sen. Gen Olson
Sen. Doug Mangus 
Sen. Geoff Michel

Sen. Gary Kubly (announced he would retire but ended died while in office)
Rep John Krisel (he announced on KFAN on 3/15)

Undecided if losing endrosement of their respective parties when running for Congress or other offices:

Sen. Mike Parry- Running for Congress in 1st District.

Sen Gretchen Hoffman- Running for Congress in 7th District.

I will add more names to the list once I find out more people who is retiring.  If you know of anyone else is retiring or running for another office, send email to senatoreggert@yahoo.com. 

ATKINS ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID, WILL NOT RUN FOR CONGRESS

State Rep. Joe Atkins finalized his decision to seek re-election to the Minnesota House at his daughter’s high school basketball game on Wednesday night. There had been wide speculation until now that Atkins would run for Congress in Minnesota’s newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District.

“I may or may not get more chances to run for higher office, but I only get one chance at being a good dad,” said Atkins. “Being in Washington, D.C. at this point would not allow me to be involved in my family and in our community as much as I would like.” Atkins and his wife, Julia, have three children, ages 18, 17 and 15.

Just prior to his daughter’s game on Wednesday, Atkins passed bipartisan legislation to the House floor to protect Minnesotans from sophisticated internet and telephone scams. The scams, which are tied to organized crime and have victimized over 100,000 Minnesotans so far, often target senior citizens and vulnerable adults. Atkins’s legislation is AARP’s top priority at the Capitol this session.

“My ability to pass important, bipartisan legislation, even as a member of the minority, was definitely a key factor in my decision to seek re-election to the Minnesota House,” Atkins said. With strong relationships on both sides of the aisle, Representative Atkins has passed more bipartisan legislation over the last four years than any other state representative, according to data compiled by non-partisan staff.

Rep. Atkins has passed bipartisan laws to improve fire safety, protect retirement accounts, decrease meth labs, and make college more affordable for middle-class families. For his efforts, he has earned a variety of awards, including being named “Legislator of the Year” by Minnesota’s firefighters. 

Atkins said he is kicking off his re-election campaign this weekend by going to door-to-door in Mendota Heights and Eagan, which were recently added to his legislative district, and will start door-knocking in Inver Grove Heights next weekend.

“That probably means we’ll finally get a foot of snow and it will be 20 below zero,” Atkins joked.

On Saturday night, though, Atkins will put politics aside. He’ll be sitting in the stands watching his daughter and the Simley girls basketball team in the section semifinals.

REP. KNUTH NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION

(SAINT PAUL) — Today, Representative Kate Knuth (DFL – New Brighton) announced she will not be seeking re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Rep. Knuth released the following statement:

“Representing my neighbors in New Brighton, Arden Hills, Shoreview and Fridley in the Minnesota House of Representatives is an honor. Running for and serving in office has allowed me to get to know my community and its geography and people in a unique and fulfilling way. I am so grateful for the many wonderful people who have taken the time to help me do this job well.

“I am proud of the work we do together to make Minnesota an exceptional place to live. In particular, I am proud to have worked with local leaders on environmental cleanup and redevelopment needs in my community. I am also glad that Minnesota is on a cleaner, more homegrown energy path because of work we have done over the last few years.

“While I will not be seeking reelection, I look forward to serving my neighbors through this term. I will continue to seek out ways in which to contribute to making Minnesota, and the world, a healthier and more sustainable place. I consider myself lucky to love Minnesota, my home state, more than I can fully describe. My service, leadership, and life’s work will always be firmly rooted in this place and its people.”